Formation of Silicon from Shirasu Volcanic Ash Using Solar Furnace

K. Hatakeyama, H. Kaneko, and K. Nishioka

Abstract—Silicon was prepared from Shirasu volcanic ash using solar furnace. The solar furnace was composed from two parts; Fresnel lens and reacting furnace. Fresnel lens was used to concentrate sunlight onto the reacting furnace where the sample was put on. The sample was made from silica and silicon carbide formed using Shirasu volcanic ash, and placed in the carbon crucible inside the reacting furnace. By using light of sun concentrated with Fresnel lens, the sample was irradiated for 3.5 hours and the furnace was left until it cooled down to room temperature. Both irradiating and cooling processes were done under argon atmosphere. After the experiment, the sample was evaluated by X-ray diffraction. The sample was found to have produced the Si component.

Index Terms—Silica, silicon, solar furnace, volcanic ash.

The authors are with the Faculty of Engineering, University of Miyazaki, Japan (e-mail: ta14010@student.miyazaki-u.ac.jp, hkaneko.ee@cc.miyazaki-u.ac.jp, nishioka@cc.miyazaki-u.ac.jp).